Paul's travel plans: Jerusalem, Rome, and Spain

Says Paul has often planned to come to Rome but has been prevented (Rom 1:10–13; 15:22). He has "fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ" from Jerusalem around to Illyricum (15:19), and he now intends to go to Spain, seeing the Roman believers on the way and being sent on by them (15:23–24, 28). First he must take the gift of Macedonia and Achaia to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (15:25–27). He asks prayer for deliverance from unbelievers in Judea (15:30–31).

Says Acts records the same plan: Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must see Rome as well" (Acts 19:21). He reached Rome as a prisoner, after arrest in Jerusalem and appeal to Caesar, and stayed two years in rented quarters (Acts 21:27–36; 25:11; 28:14–16, 30).

Implies Romans is partly a letter of introduction. Paul sets out his gospel to a church he did not found (15:20) to win its support for a western mission. His fears in 15:31 proved well founded, and he came to Rome "by God's will" (1:10), though by a route he had not planned.

The NT does not say whether Paul reached Spain. Clement of Rome (late first century) says Paul taught righteousness to the whole world and came "to the extreme limit of the west" before his martyrdom (1 Clem. 5.7).

Uncertain Clement's phrase may mean Spain, or it may simply mean Rome seen from the East. The evidence is too slight to decide.